Slow Wi-Fi in Your Apartment? You Can Fix It in 5 Simple Steps

CNET

12-05-2025

Apartment buildings are notorious for crowded Wi-Fi signals. There are a mass of devices demanding airspace simultaneously, along with heavy beams and metal obstructions -- not to mention that if your Wi-Fi router isn't centrally located, the strength of your signal may be spilling into your neighbor's space. Working from home, trying to stream your favorite show, and gaming are all activities that, while essential to a lot of us, are difficult to maintain without a strong Wi-Fi signal.
It can make you feel powerless. But there are a few steps to improve your signal and get a better Wi-Fi connection in your apartment.
Oh, one more thing. All things being equal, your first move should be to explore whether you can use a different internet service provider that better fits your needs and budget. However, when it comes to living in an apartment building, you often don't have much choice regarding your ISP. Many apartment complexes have contracts with specific ISPs, so even if multiple providers are available in your area, you may be bound by your lease to stick with the one you have.
That's enough preamble. Let's get into it.
Secure your Wi-Fi signal
Buttoning down your network security is an essential first step, no matter where you live, but it's especially crucial if you're renting an apartment and using the equipment that came with the place. Start by changing your router's network name and password -- and make sure you change that password every so often. If you're using a device provided by your internet provider, you should be able to use its app to easily change the information, or by typing your router's IP address into the URL bar.
Locating local internet providers
When it comes to your new password, make sure it's anything but simple. It's tempting to keep it uncomplicated so it's easier to remember, but you want to make it difficult for others to crack (and we suggest use a password manager to help remember it).
Go channel surfing
Your router most likely uses two bands -- 2.4GHz and 5GHz -- and within each of those bands are channels for sending and receiving your Wi-Fi signal. Your Wi-Fi issues may stem from your use of the same channel as many of your neighbors. Or, in other words, you're all clogging up the same lanes.
The solution is to hop off that crowded channel and find one with a little less traffic. You can use your router's Wi-Fi utilities (either through an app or via the web) to scan for the least-used channel available and set your router to that channel.
As you're doing this, it's a good idea to use an internet speed test to compare how your Wi-Fi performs on the different channels. Actually, it's a good idea to run a speed test before you change any settings. That way, you have a baseline idea of how your Wi-Fi was (barely) functioning and can later see how these new channels are performing in comparison.
Ideally, you shouldn't have to do this channel check daily, but if it's effective for solving laggy Wi-Fi issues -- you can lean on it whenever you run into trouble.
Move your router
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution. Perhaps the reason for your slow Wi-Fi is the poor placement of your router. Is it tucked away to the side of the house? Is it being blocked by a large piece of furniture or appliance? Try giving your router some space. While you might be tempted to tuck it away to hide those ugly cables, you could be inadvertently impeding your router's ability to send a clear signal throughout the house -- and instead passing that signal to your neighbors.
Location is crucial to a healthy Wi-Fi signal. Some places to avoid placing your router include the kitchen, which is full of large metal appliances, particularly your microwave, which interferes with the router's signal. Your microwave and your router run on similar frequencies, so your Wi-Fi connection will be disrupted if it's near the microwave.
Move it away from other high-demand Wi-Fi devices, like your smart TV or PlayStation. Again, having all those devices near one another will interfere with the functions of your router.
Finally, try moving the router closer to the center of the apartment. This should enable a more equitable sharing of the Wi-Fi wealth among everyone in the place, and in theory, your router should perform better as well.
Get a Wi-Fi extender
It's common in apartments for your router to be permanently installed in a set location with wires, making it impossible for you to move your router at all. But all is not lost in this scenario. You can turn to a Wi-Fi extender to extend your signal. This shouldn't be too big of an investment or commitment -- decent options can range from just under $30 to around $100 -- and it could pay huge dividends in bettering your Wi-Fi signal.
Depending on the size of your place, you might only need one Wi-Fi extender. Be sure to place it in your apartment's "dead spot" and see if you can bring that area to connected life. One thing to note: Getting a Wi-Fi extender doesn't mean you skip the previous steps. For example, you should still take an internet speed test, secure your Wi-Fi with a password, and explore the best channel for faster speeds. If you and everyone in the building are on channel 11 or 144, you'll likely still have issues even if you use a Wi-Fi extender.
Invest in a mesh system
If you use the internet heavily in your apartment (like streaming or gaming), you've likely outgrown the router from your ISP. If all else fails, or you live in a larger apartment, you may need to explore a pricier -- but still affordable -- option. Investing in a good quality mesh router will strengthen your Wi-Fi signals -- and keep you from paying extra for a router from your ISP.
A mesh router offers range-extending satellites that can help you stretch your signal past 100 feet. If you'd like to integrate your router into your smart home, look for ones that specifically work with your devices (Google, Alexa, HomeKit, etc.).
If your apartment is a temporary living situation, consider buying a system with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 and other forward-thinking capabilities. For example, you might want to prioritize the router's ability to handle multigigabit speeds. Or ensure you can add more satellites to your system if your home size or number of devices grows.
What's the final word on slow apartment Wi-Fi?
Perhaps I should have started with this, but I'll go ahead and end with it. If you're having trouble with the Wi-Fi router in your apartment and experiencing speeds well below what your ISP advertised, I have to ask: Did you try restarting it? I know. I'm not fond of hearing that question, either. It makes me feel like an idiot. But sometimes, it can be that simple. Just try rebooting your router. But if that doesn't work, you've now got a roadmap of other options to try as well.
Apartment Wi-Fi FAQs
Will my Wi-Fi speed always be bad because I live in an apartment?
Not necessarily. Certainly, living in an apartment means you'll have challenges regarding your Wi-Fi connection. Namely, the proximity of other neighbors and the potential interference of all their devices and signals. But it doesn't mean you're destined to have bad Wi-Fi. It just means you might have to work a little to optimize your Wi-Fi experience.
Is there a way to upgrade my apartment's Wi-Fi?
Yes. Perhaps the quickest way to upgrade your Wi-Fi is to get a faster speed plan from your internet provider. However, that might not be financially feasible for many. So the next best option is to try to move your router to a more central location in your apartment. That should provide better Wi-Fi to more areas of your place. But if that's not successful, you could try purchasing a Wi-Fi extender to expand the reach of your Wi-Fi connection within the apartment.